Electric time-switch.



PA'L'ENTBD JULY 3, 1906.

' C. E. MENTZER;

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH.

AAAAAAA TION FILED DEO.30.1905,

ne I snares earner cries.

CLAUDE E. MENTZER, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF FORTY-NINE ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO LEON A. FREEMAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ELECTRIC TlME- swiTcH Specification of Letters Patent.

l-etentecl July 3, 1906.

Application filed December 30, 1905. Serial No. 294.013.

To all whom it maybonccrn."

' Be it known-that I, CLAUDE E. MENTZE aicitizenof the United'States, residing in the city'a-nd county of Denver and State of 0010- "rado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Electric Time Switches;

I do declare the following to be a 'full,

clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

. Myinvention relates to improvements in electric time-switches or means for controlling an electric circhit whereby the circuit is closed and broken at will.

i The invention is more especially intended for use in making and breaking an electriclight circuit at predetermined intervals. 5 It iswell known that in business establishments it is necessary that the illumination of the building employed in connection therewith should begin and cease at certain hours of the day.

My object isjc-o provide an apparatus which may be set to turn the lights on and ofi at such intervalsas may be desired.

The apparatus includes a time-measuring and time-indicating motor, together with a time indi cating dial and pointer connected and moving with a re voluble spindle actuated bythe'motor mechanism, a contact moving in unisg n with the hand or indicator and engaging a ring composed of three parts, one

part being of insulating material and another part being a Icontinuous ring composed of conducting material, as metal, while the other part is a segmental member composed of a series of contact-plates, the number employd and their arrangement eing determined by the period during which the-cirstruction as wail as the construction it is in-' I .tendedto perform, I will proceed to describe the same in deiiail, reference being made to 'the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an eniibodiment thereof.

f In the drawingt, Figure 1 is a front view of my improved eledtric time-switch. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the dial-carrying door open. Fig. 3 is ascction taken through the device, the motor mechanism being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the mechanism. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view of atoothed wheel forming a part of the mechanism. Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a modified form of construction.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a suitable casing, to which is hinged a door 7, provided with a transparent plate 8 and a dial9, lo-

cated inside the door and provided with nuthe dial are supposed to indicate time from siX in the morning until six inthe evening.

These numerals therefore are arranged. forthe entire twenty-four hours. i

Thetcentral part of the dial is provided closed to turn with a centrally-located spindle 12, forming a part of the motor mechan} ism, the same being journaled' in .vertical plates 13 and 14,, located within the casing and secured to the wall thereof. The sleeve 10 is provided at its outer extremity with a hand or pointer 15, adapted when the motor is in operation to move in suitable proximity to the numerals on the dial, as disclosed in Fig. 1.

to indicatetimc with a sleeve 10,'adapted when the door is.

' Attention i calledtd the hat that the transparent plate 8 of the dial is provided at its outer edge with a metal rim 8, the same being hinged at 8 to s'wingoutwardly independentl of the opening movement of the door. held in place by a spring-catch 8 mounted on the body of the door. It is only necessary to open the entire door when for any reason it is desirable to gain access'to certain parts of the motor mechanism. As shown in the drawings,.the sleeve 10 is angular in cross-section. Hence the outer extremity of the spindle '10 should be of corresponding shape to permit the sleeve to'slide on and ofl at pleasure,

the two parts being thus arranged to rotate in unison.

To the spindle 12 and inside of the dial or within. the closed chamber of the casing a contact-armaifi is made ia'st to the spindle by a screw 17, passing'through the hub OI' sleeve then closed, this auxiliary door is.

moves around Within the 1.6 of the arm. This arm is provided at its outer extremity with an ins11latingpiece 17", to which is pivotally connected a contact 1.8, engaged by a spring 19, whose normal tendency is to force the contact .18 outwardly against the inner periphery of the ring 20, whose central lating material. The inner portion 22 consists of an unbroken plate of conducting material, as metal, and whose outer part is composed of movable contactplates 23. As shown in the drawings, there should be one of these plates 23 for each hour of'the day. The contact 18 is of sufficient width to bridge the space between the metal ring member 22 and the contact-plates 23.

One of the wires, which I will designate A of the inner circuit leads to the continuous metal ring 22, while the wire B of the internal circuit leads to one of the segmental contact members 23. Hence the contact 18 as it periphery of the ring 20 is always in engagement with the contact 22 and is further in engagement with the se mental plates 23 wherever they are applie to the ring 20.

Assuming that the plates 23 are arranged as shown in Fig. 2 and assuming also that the figures designating hours on the dial are arranged in the same manner as in Fig. 1, as soon as the contact 18 reach'c a point on the ring 20 where the contact-plates 23 commence the circuit will be closed and remain closed until the contact reaches the part of the ring 20 containing no contact-plates 23, when the circuit will be broken andthe lights go out.

It the number of plates disclosed in Fig. 2 employed, the circuit will be closed from between iive and six oclock until twelve ocloclr at night, since, as heretofore stated, the fig ures on the upper half of the dial are supposed to indicate time from six p. 111. until six a. in, while those on the lower half time from six a. m. to six p. mu The contact-plates are preferably connected with links or parts 23, composed of conducting material, as metal, in order to insure perfect electric contact between the adjacent segmental plates in case it should happen that the plates were not in actual contact with each other. ductors (Not shown.)

The ring 20 is suitably supported upon the plate 13 of the casing, this connection being made, as shown in the drawings, by means of screws 24 passed through lugs 25 formed on the insulatingmember 21, and entering the plate or partition 13. This screw passes through a spacing-sleeve 26, interposed between the lug 25 and the plate 13, whereby 15 the ring is suitably supported.

portion 21 is composed of men-- The con- 3 A and B of the internal circuit lead f i to binding-posts C and D, respectively, from which lead wires or conductors E and F to the respective poles of the electrical source.

I As heretofore indicated, the hand 15 of the I contact-arm 1.6 may be actuated by suitable i mechanism arranged to measure time.

mechanism should be of suilicient strength for the purpose.

to the spindle 12 within the casing is secured a relatively large gear 27, meshing with a pinion 28, fast on a short spindle 29, jourl naied in the plate 14 and having a pinion l on its inner extremity. This pmign 30 meshes with-a larger gear 31, fast on a spindle 32 and provided with a pinion 33, meshing with a larger gear 34, fast one shaft 35 g with which is connected one extremity 36 of a coil-spring I the spring being attached to a post 38, :as shown at 39,

the casing. Also to the spindle 35 is attached a winding-gear 40, meshing with a l pinion 41, made fast to a key-spindle 42, ashioned at its outer extremity as shown at l 43, to receive a key. (Not shown.) The p' struction which I prefer to use is that shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, in which a curved is locatedin a recess formed partly in dog 33 the spindle 32 and partly in the imon. This construction is so arranged (see 6) that when the pinion is turned in the direction of arrow b it will also carrythe spindle I when theopinion is turned in the direction of arrow (1 the dog will move around with the pinion without rotating the spindle.

32 is further provided with a gear 44, I meshing with a pinion 45, fast on a governorshaft 46, upon which is mounted a governin device 47, com osed of two sleeves 48 an i 49, connected by leaf-spring parts 50, provided with weights 51. The sleeve 49 is prospindle crumed as shown at 52". In case there is a ower-spring ts 46 causes the sliding sleeve 49 to move in the d rection of the transverse center of the spindle, wherefast under the influence of the i l by the disk 49"" i the centrifugal force of the weig arm of the pawl 52, the other aim being acted on by the set-screw 53, whereby the brakelever maybe set to apply the brake as desired. I From the foregoing description the use and l l operation of my improved device as thus far.

described may be explained as follows; Asi suming that the sprin 37 is wound up and placed under tension, lire recoil of this spring As shown in the drawings,

37, the opposite extremity ofthe post 38 being made fast to ion 33 is connected with a spindle 32 in sucha employed to accomplish this end. The con- The.

vided with a disk 49, adapted to engage a brake-lever 52 of the bell-crank type and fix].-

tendency for the mechanismto operate too] This Y pinion 33 will also move the spin- TCO with it to operate the train of gears, while rrb will be made toeng age one 7 once during each twenty-four hours, and consequcntly will. close the circuit Wherever the contact 18, carried by the arm it, engages a. portion of the ring 20, provided With the segmental plates 23, The owner of the device may of course have a number of these sogmental. plates sufficient to cover the entire ring on the side opposite the continuous conducting-plcte 22. vice/is to be employed, it is assumed that it is not desirable to maintain the circuit in contact during the Whole twen ty-four hours. The segmental plates 23 will therefore be applied to the portion of the dial corresponding with the period of the day during which the lights are to be burned. This is illustrated in Fig. 2, as heretofore stated.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 7

the ring 'for melting and breaking the circuit through the instrmncntslity oi the contact 18 1s arrengcdto utilize it two-ph2ise circuit.

' Consequently I employ three insulating members 5-1, 55, and 56, the centrslring 56 being separated from the rings Mend 55 by the conducting-rings 57 and 58, respectively.

' tion shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

contact-arm 16 is provided Wlth two contact To each one of the outer insulating-rings 54 and 55 d attached the segmental plates 23, which are substantially of the same construc- In this case the members 16 and 16*, one of which bridges the insulating-ring 54 and engages' thecon ducting-ring and the segmental piste 23, While the other member 16 bridges the insulating ring 55 and brid es the space between the ring 58 and'the ot er segmental plates 23. In this case; assumin that the current passes.

from one'pole of t e source (not shown) to t 1e plate 57 through in wire 59, it will pass thence to the member 16* of the contact, thence done of the segmental contact-plates 23, thence through the wire 'to the opposite contact-plate 23, thence to the opposite contact member 16, and thence to the conducting-ring 58 and through the conductor 59v to the other pole of the, electrical source. (Not shown.) I

' Having thus described my'invention, what 1 claim is 1. In on electric time-switch, the combinsitionwith a motor, of a ring comprising a.- continuous conducting member, a number of re movable contact-plates connected to form a conducting-segment, the continuous ring member and the segmental'member being in- I sulntedi'rom each other, circuitwvires con- 'nect-ed with the respective members, and a,

Where my improved (10- bridge the insulation. and connect the two members to close the circuit while passing the segmental member, and means for actuating the contact.

3, The combination of a circular conducting member, s segmental con ducting member arranged in parallel relation with the circular member, an insulating member separating the two. conducting members, a timcnneasuring motor, hand or pointer connected in operative relation therewith, o timc griulua ted dial over which the hand or pointer member moves, end a. circuit-closing contact actuated by the motor and moving in unison with the hand or pointer and forming an electr"-ol connection between the two conducting members, while the bond or pointer is moving over the portion of the time-graduated dial corresponding with the segmental memher.

t. In a structure of the class described, the

combination of a casing, a hinged door providcd with n dial graduated and marked to indicate time in suitable subdivisions of a day, a. time-measuring motor, a hand or pointer connected to be actuated by the motor and arranged to move in proximity to the timedndications of the graduated dial, a ring mounted on the casing and. composed of in continuous conducting member, a segmental conducting member, and an insulating member separating the conducting members, the segmental conducting member being composed of a number of parts arranged with reference to the time-subdivisions indicated on the dial, and a. contact connected to be operated by'the motor and arranged to move in unison with the hand or pointer, the contact being constructed to bridge the insulating material and connect the two conducting members to close the electrical circuit when the contact and the pointer "are moving through the portion of the arc of ii circle corresponding With. the length of the segmental conducting member. 7

I 5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a casing, 21 spring-actuated time-measuring motor, a governor for controlling the speed of the motor, a main spindlc, a hand or pointer connected with the spindle, a dial upon which arcmarked timesubdivisions located adjacent to the pointer as the latter rotates "thri'iugh the instrumentality of the motor, a. stationary'ring composed 01 a continuous conductingmember, a segmental conducting member and an insulating member, and a contact connected to move with the spindle which actuates the hand or pointer and whose outer extremity engages the ring and is provided with a conducting part adapted to bridge the insulating member and connect the two conducting members to close the circuit while moving through the arc corresponding with the length of the segmental member.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of acasing, a ring located in the casing and composed of a continuous conducting member, a segmental member composed of a plurality of separable parts, a dial upon which are indicated time-subdivisions, the parts of" the segmental member being arranged with reference to the time'subdivisions of the dial corresponding with the portion of the are through which the segmental conducting member extends, a motor, a hand or pointer actuated by the motor and arranged to move adjacent to the time-subdivisions of thedial, and a contact connected With the motor to move in unison with the hand or pointer, the contact being c0nstr-ucted to bridge the insulating member of the ring and electrically connect the two,conducting members when the contact and pointer are moving through the are (re responding with the length and position of the segn'iental conducting member. I

7. .ln apparatus of the class, described, the

combination of a casing, a dial upon which are indicated time-suhdivisions, revoluble spindle, a hand or pointer carried by the spindle and arranged to move around the dial when the spindle is rotated, a mounted in the casing and composed of member, aspindle journaled in the casing, av

spring connected :with the latter to rotate the same, and a gearing connection between the springnctuated spindle and the spindle-actuating the hand or pointer and the contact, means for Winding the spring to place the latter under tension without operating the hand or pointer and the electrical contact, and suitable means for governing the speed of the motor for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I athx my signature in presence of two witnesses CLAUDE it. MENTZEP. Witnesses:

A. J. UBnmn, DIJNA Nnrscn. 

